Page 116 of The Ice Prince's Fated Mate
“Shit!” Caz shouted, plunging both hands into the frost. “Get Dirk!”
I didn’t have to. The door flung open, and Dirk was at Milly’s side in an instant as I clung to Anna. “What’s going on?”
“They’re fighting the binding,” Anna said. “Caz did this to you, but the frost cloud was far smaller. I don’t understand.”
Dirk stuck his hands into the cloud, right in front of Milly’s face. I watched fearfully as my mate put himself in harm’s way.The skin on his hands and arms was blistered red and painful, and his face bunched up in pain.
Slowly, agonizingly slowly, the cloud began to stiffen and turn to ice as the brothers fought against it.
“Anna,” Caz grunted, both his and Dirk’s hands held fast in the ice. “Hit it. Smash it.”
The Ice Tyrantess swept from my side, her eyes ablaze with purple light as she called to her dragon.
Her hand came down, fingers bladed, and slashed into the solid chunk. Ice shattered and exploded, peppering everyone with razor-sharp pieces.
At the same time, Milly started sobbing uncontrollably with her eyes screwed shut. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to. I didn’t want to, Daddy. I’m sorry!”
Then, blissfully her eyes rolled up into her skull and she fell back into the couch unconscious.
“Is that what I did?” I asked, stunned by the pain in my friend’s voice.
“No,” Anna said, also shocked. “You just screamed and tried to claw your eyes out with your fingernails.”
“Oh. That sounds horrible too.”
“It was terrible,” Dirk rasped.
I gasped, rushing to his side. “Your arms!”
“I will be okay. I promise.” He leaned in, resting his forehead against mine. “But our trip will probably have to wait until tomorrow.”
“That’s okay,” I said, looking at Milly. “I don’t want to leave her yet anyway.”
Dirk nodded. “I understand.” He got to his feet, glancing at Caz, who nodded. “We’ll let you be for now. Take care of your friend. She deserves it.”
“We will,” I assured him, taking up position on the other side of Milly from Anna. “Thank you, Caz.”
“Don’t thank me,” he grunted. “I hate inflicting pain. I just hate those collars more.”
“It was so strong,” Anna said. “What happened?”
“I think Mirko put it on himself,” Caz said. “I don’t know for sure. But I won’t make that mistake again.”
The two men bid farewells and left the room, their arms red. I sent all the loving and supportive emotions I could through my link with Dirk. It hurt me not to take care of him as a mate should, but Milly needed me more right now.
Understanding flowed back from him, and I smiled. Looking up, I saw a similar smile on Anna’s face. She must have been doing the same.
“Come on,” she said. “Let’s get Milly to the bed.”
We did and then settled in for our vigil. We supported one another, and these two had been there for me. Now it was my turn.
That was what besties did.
Fifty-Seven
Ella
It was three daysbefore we left for the mountain and the chalet.
